Welcome to Frassati Young Adults Backpacking Trips, brought to you by our Frassati Outdoor Ministry Team! We have at least three (if not many more) overnight backpacking trips planned this year. Most forests limit us to about 12 people per group, so sign up early if you want a guaranteed spot (first come first serve).

This form is for the Olympic Peninsula Coastal Hike: South Beach (moderate level).

For NPS’s description: https://www.nps.gov/olym/planyourvisit/south-coast-route.htm.

This is one of the most beautiful and iconic hikes on the Olympic Peninsula. It requires both careful timing of low tides for times when we hike along the beach (which will be around noon while we are there), as well as fording some rivers. Each day we will pray and chant morning and evening prayer together, celebrate Mass, have at least 30 min of Adoration, as well as time for group reflection. Our max group size is 12. Our “default schedule and route” below is only of moderate difficulty, and will allow you to leave Seattle in the afternoon on Friday (or later if you have headlamps, but must have previous experience backpacking alone and at night). Packs will not be overly heavy, but beware that hiking on wet sand feels like hiking uphill and twice the distance. Once we get an idea on who is coming, we will survey the group to see if we are up to leaving early on Friday morning and completing the far more difficult south to north route, which will include climbing some ladders, more rivers to ford, and longer distances to hike; however, if this is not reasonable for anyone, we will remain with the default schedule and route.

Cost: ~$100 total each, plus shared gas expenses. We will carpool to the trailhead and passengers should pitch-in for fuel costs. Each person is responsible for bringing their own food and we will communicate on who will bring stoves, but first-time backpackers will be helped and we can do a shopping trip together the day before.

Low tides)

Fri. 6/28. 12:06pm low. 6:51pm high

Sat. 6/29. 12:58pm low. 7:40pm high

Sun. 6/30. 1:55pm low. 8:30pm high.

Schedule

Default Schedule and Route (in-and-out). Friday evening to Sunday.

Wednesday Evening: 6:30pm. Pre-Trip Meeting at UW Newman.
Friday:

Carpool (~4 hrs from Blessed Sacrament) to Third Beach Trailhead (near Forks).
One car will depart midday to pick up permits from ranger station (~2.5 hrs, open 9am-4pm).
Other cars depart later and even after 5pm if necessary, as long as you have headlamps.
Hike 1.4 miles from trailhead to Third Beach.

Saturday:

hike ~4 miles from Third Beach to Strawberry Point and pitch camp.

Sunday

Return back to Third Beach trailhead

Alternative Schedule (thru hike south to north). Friday morning to Sunday. (All Trails: https://www.alltrails.com/explore/trail/us/washington/third-beach-to-hoh-river)

Friday

All cars depart ~6:30am from Blessed Sacrament (~4 hrs). One car must stop by the ranger station to pick up permits/bear cans. Meet at Third Beach Trailhead to drop off a shuttle car.
Drive to Oil City Trailhead (~1hr) and park.
Hike from Oil City Trailhead to Mosquito Creek (only 6.3mi, but includes one steep section with ladders).

Saturday

Hike from Mosquito Creek to Scott Creek (~5 mi, includes fording rivers)

Sunday

Scott Creek to Third Beach Trailhead (2.6 mi)

Liability: every person who attends will have to sign a liability waiver.

Equipment: We do not provide any equipment, and encourage you to borrow from friends. A basic list is written below, but a specific list will be released for each trip as well. However, if you are not local to Seattle and don’t know anyone who can lend you equipment, let us know when you register for the trip and we will most likely be able to find someone who can lend you some items like a backpack/tent. Also, a lot of gear you won't have to worry about since the group as a whole will have these: (stove & fuel, water filters, first aid, bear bin, etc.).

Cost (permits, food, other): The trip costs about $30. Additionally, you will be responsible for the cost of gas for driving and the cost of acquiring your own food (tell us if you need financial help). Expect these to be about an additional $70. There is an additional cost if your driver does not have a national park pass.

Experience and health: if you have never backpacked before, this will be a perfect opportunity for you to do it with experienced people. We can also be available to meet with you beforehand to make sure your backpack is properly fitted. However, as a minimal health standard, you should be able to maintain a jogging speed of 11 min/mile for 4 miles by the time you go on the trip. Why? You will be carrying about 30-40 lbs of gear on wet sand; if we do the longer trip, it will include climbing up steep ladders and possibly fording rivers with your pack above your head. Therefore, it is a health concern, but also a concern because the group only goes as fast as the slowest person. You don’t have to be absolutely fit, but fit enough that the trip is not dangerous to you or others, and that we reach our campsites within a reasonable timeframe.

Mass & Sacraments: Fr. Chrysostom will be joining us. Daily Mass followed by 30 minutes of Adoration, communal prayers, and confession will be available each day. The trip may also have a theme (like God in Nature, for example), which has not been decided yet.

Gear. ** means it’s necessary.

-                Headlamp with extra batteries**
-                3 liters worth of water bottle/bladder.**
-                Backpack – at least 50+L **
-                Sleeping Bag **
-                Sleeping Pad **

- Hiking Poles
- (Backpacking pillow -optional)
- Waterproof pack cover (optional)
- Paracord (recommended)
- Knife (optional)
- Trowel (recommended).

- Mosquito head net

Clothing:

-                Hiking boots or trail runners (at the very least, running shoes. NO casual shoes)**
-                (Boot gaiters – optional).
-                flip-flops or sandals for camp
-                hiking socks (getting nylon liners helps a lot too) **
-                underwear (not cotton) **

-                1x pants/shorts to hike in (not cotton/no jeans) **
-                1x warm & clean legging/pants for the evenings
-                2 x short sleeved shirt **
-                1x long sleeved shirt **
-                Mid-layer fleece/sweater/puffy jacket **
-                Waterproof/water resistant jacket ("outer shell") **
-                Hat **
- Sunglasses

Optional clothing

- Beanie for cold nights
- Bathing attire

Personal

- Toiletries (toothbrush/paste/floss, deodorant. Optional: a few baby wipes in a Ziploc for a sponge bath; toilet paper and a Ziploc with hand sanitizer)
- Sunscreen
- Bug Repellent
- Prayer/reading matter
- Phone & battery bank (please keep phone use to a minimum while on the trip)
- Small towel if you plan on swimming
- Electrolyte drink mix/chews and some snacks
- A small trash bag
- A car comfort bag for the drive back - comfy shoes, water, snacks, wipes, clean clothes (optional - make sure it's not visible from car windows)

- Personal First Aid kit (esp for foot care, ex. moleskin for blisters)

Group Gear (aka, you don't need to have these)

- Water purification tablets & water filters
- Lightweight Stove.
- Fuel
- Large First Aid Kit
- Bear Spray/Bear Horn
- Tents
- Trowel

Overnight Backpacking: Olympic Coast